Dispenser for paper napkins and the like



Nov. 20, 1928.

S. A. MERRIN Filed Aug. 23/ 1926 Patented Nov; 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. MERRIII, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGiioR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro

RATHON PAPER mILLs COMPANY, or Ro'rnscIIIm), WISCONSIN, A conroaA- TION OF WISCONSIN.

DISPENSER FOB PAPER NAPKINS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 23, 1826. Serial No. 130,855.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a container and dispensing device for use with paper napkins, towels and the like, which shall be adapted for economical conhstruction and shall be simple and reliable tion.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section'as it would appear taken through the structure of Figure 2 and looking in the direction in which the napkins fit toward the dispensing opening.

Fi re 4 is a perspective view of an inclined base for the containe'rsections.

As shown in Figure 1, the dispenser consists of two sections or com artments, 1 and 2, which are .formed with our vertical side walls and with inclined bottom walls, 4,

' window, 8, for this purpose.

whose slope corresponds-to that of an inclined base, 3, upon which the compartments are mounted. The bottom wall of'each compartment has a pair of up-standing ribs, 5, 5, upon which the lower edges of the napkins, 6, rest and along which the are slidable with a minimum of friction. e front vertical wall, 7, of each container section is formed with a Window, 8, at which the napkins are presented in convenient position to be grasped for removing them as wanted. When folded as shown in the drawings, each napkin presents a triangular tab, 6, at the Each window, 8, is of slightly smaller area than the folded form of the napkin; it may be of generally rectangular form as shown, with oblique corner outlines at 9, to provide adequate surface for holding the napkins in position. A com aratively rigid backing plate, 10, preferab of metal is placed behind a batch of napkins in each container and a weight, 11, preferably in the form of a roller 1s positioned behind the plate, 10. If the length of the roller, 11, is such that it will just fit between the ribs, 5, 5, the latter will act as guides in directing the movement of the roller as it travels down the inclined bottom, 4, of the container in following up the napkins and keeping the plate, 10, pressed against them as they are removed one at a time through the dispensing windows at 8.

This very simple construction insures keeping'the napkins in uniform condition and position with respect to the dispensing window, 8, throughout their travel in the direction of feed, and since the pressure applied to them is due entirely to the action of gravity, this pressure remains the same at all times, whether the container pacity or nearly empty.

It will be noted that the upper section acts be filled to caas .a cover for the lower compartment, 2, and

a separate cover, 12, may be applied to the upper section tokeep it dust-proof.

It will be understood that the particular folded form of napkin shown in the drawings is chosen merely for purposes of illustration, and that this dispenser is adapted to handle napkins folded in various other wa s. Itis merely required that the folding e so ar ranged as to present an ed e or corner of a limited area such as the ta 6, overlying a" larger area at a position within the area of the delivery window, 8, so that the napkin can be grasped by such edge or corner and withdrawn through the opening. It should also be understood that the dispenser is equally well adapted to handle towels and various other paper articles in folded form and is not necessarily limited to articles of aper, but may be employed for dispensing at folded units of other fabrics. In the specification and claims, therefore, the, term napkins is not intended as limiting the scope of the invention, but should be understood as employed in a generic sense as covering the entire range of articles and materlals to whlch a dispenser of this character is suited.

I claim I .1. A dispenser for folded paper napkins,

towels and the like, comprising a receptacle e napkins on edge, a substantially vernapkins toward the window, said f oliower comprising a substantially flat plate directly engaging a quantity of napkins at the opposite side of the latter from the delivery Window, and a weight resting on the inclined bottom against said plate but unconnected theresmaller than the folded form of the napkin,

and means for exerting substantially nniform pressure against the napkins toward the window, said inclined bottom having inte grally formed upstanding ribs to engage the lower edges of the. napkin at limited areas of contact to minimize the trictionopposing movement of the napkins down the incline.

3. A dispenser for folded paper napkins, towels and the like Eomprising a receptacle having an inclined bottom arranged to support the napkins on edge, a substantially vertical wall toward which said bottom is in clined and having a delivery window smaller ne ates than the folded form of the napkin, said bottom wall having a pair of up-standing ribs extending toward the vertical wall to engage the lower edges of the napkins, and a follower which includes a weighted roller guided by said ribs and adapted to move down the incline for exerting a constant pressure against the napkins toward the window.

t. A dispenser for folded paper napkins, towels and the like, comprising a base which includes a horizontal surface and an inclined surface above it, a receptacle mounted on said base having an inclined bottom and vertical side Walls, one of said walls having a delivery opening toward which the bottom slopes downwardly, said bottom being adapted to support the napkins on edge with the outermost napkin overlying the delivery opening, a follower movable bygravity along the inclined bottom for exerting pressure on the napkins toward said opening, and a closure for the receptacle above the napkins therein, said dispenser including additional receptacles stacked one above the other, each upper receptacle forming the closure for the next lower receptacle and a removable cover for the uppermost receptacle.

SAMUEL A. ERIN. 

